Improving Instant Coffee

Well, I am sure many can remember the thread that was on here all about coffee and some peoples' frustration and dislike of instant.  My frustration here in the UK has not been the lack of "real coffee" but has been not having access to half and half.  Milk just doesn't do it for me, People.  Anyway, I have to say, once I got some single cream and started adding THAT to my coffee...WELL!  Can we say, "Mmmmmmmmmm!"?  Who cares if it's instant coffee?  Put some cream in it and it tastes like it should, as long as it isn't decaf, that is.

~~goes off to fix another cup~~

adding creme makes anything tase good.  lol. 

Good idea!!!!!  I'm on it!

Half and half is just that... half cream and half milk....

it is quite lush...

I have missed half and half, it is lovely in coffee.  Single cream does make coffee here much better than just milk. 

Mmmm. Coffee. (drool!) I don't mind instant either, as long as it's nice and strong. That cream idea sounds yummy!  

Oh, and another way to improve instant is to wait a minute or so after the kettle's boiled before you pour it on the coffee, so it doesn't taste as bitter.

I remember 1/2 and 1/2  :\\\'(   :\\\'(

I also remember the LOOK I got when I asked the husband unit where it was at the store!!! 

Oh, and another way to improve instant is to wait a minute or so after the kettle's boiled before you pour it on the coffee, so it doesn't taste as bitter.

This, too, makes all the difference in the world.  Except, my DH actually likes coffee to be bitter...

When we can't do real coffee, we do the following.

Use Nescafe Gold Blend Instant. Put 2 teaspoons into a mug.
Fill a separate mug 1/2 with milk 1/2 with water, then dump it into a saucepan.
Heat on really low heat until the top gets frothy.
Dump the milk over the coffee, but use a knife to keep the froth in the saucepan until the last minute.
Then dump the froth on top. Should be a great big dallop.

Makes instant VERY drinkable.

And it is great with some chocolate chip cookies. 

When we can't do real coffee, we do the following.

Use Nescafe Gold Blend Instant. Put 2 teaspoons into a mug.
Fill a separate mug 1/2 with milk 1/2 with water, then dump it into a saucepan.
Heat on really low heat until the top gets frothy.
Dump the milk over the coffee, but use a knife to keep the froth in the saucepan until the last minute.
Then dump the froth on top. Should be a great big dallop.

Makes instant VERY drinkable.

And it is great with some chocolate chip cookies. 

AND, this would be seriously cheaper than buying a cappuchino machine! 

Mmmmm....chocolate chip cookies. ~~drool~~

I sometimes (special occasions) use something called 'Half Cream' in coffee.  I thought it was similar to half and half, but could be wrong. 

Anyway, when I was googling 'half cream' I found this useful site!   

http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/magazine/2002/06-02/cream.htm

I sometimes (special occasions) use something called 'Half Cream' in coffee.  I thought it was similar to half and half, but could be wrong. 

Anyway, when I was googling 'half cream' I found this useful site!   

http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/magazine/2002/06-02/cream.htm

Well, ta, Mindy.  What you've found for us there is everything we ever wanted to know about cream but were afraid to ask.

Also...

Found a lovely website: http://www.foodsubs.com/

Click on Dairy and get this:

half-and-half = half & half (10.5 - 18% fat) Substitutes:  equal parts cream and milk OR evaporated milk OR 7/8 C milk + 1 ½ tablespoons butter or margarine

The last one seems gross for coffee but okay for pasta sauces and the like.

Yeah, butter in coffee is a little too much, even for me...LOL.  But, yeah, that's basically what I've been doing (in order to stretch my single cream and make it last longer), I mix it with milk...basically making my own half and half.

Since I'm a big coffee fanatic I thought I'd jump in on this conversation I think I could live with drinking instant coffee..they do have coffee makers there but my fiance likes his Nescafe instant with milk. What I would miss is my International Delight and Coffee Mate flavored creamers you find in the milk section here. I'm sure they have cocoa mix there..use some of that and add a bit of cream or the evaporated milk that comes in a can (that's very good in tea by the way with sugar!) and you have a nice mocha I think they have a powdered Galaxy drink mix, now that would be good in coffee! mmmm!